The morning sun painted long shadows across Weath's main road as Mallie and I made our way into the village. My combat frame creaked with each step, the damage from our battle evident in several torn plates and bent joints. Mallie walked beside me, her quiver now full of recovered enchanted arrows, tired but proud.

  I carried the Snapper Dragon's massive head in two of my mechanical arms. Black blood had dried along its neck where I'd severed it, and its empty eye sockets stared blankly ahead. The sight drew gasps from the early risers who spotted us.

  That bloody dragon's head had not been the only prize we had won after defeating the monster. My Depository was filled with the dragon's parts, with the claws, bones, and hide taking up much of the magical inventory's space.

  Both Mallie and I had also gained an increase in our levels. She had finally reached Level 6 while I managed to reach Level 11.

  I brought up my status box to check my gains.

  Word spread quickly. By the time we reached the town hall, a crowd had gathered. Old Willem pushed through first, his weathered face breaking into a broad grin.

  "They're back! And look what they brought!"

  I set the dragon's head down on the hall steps. The villagers pressed closer, marvel and horror mixing on their faces as they took in its size. The head alone was larger than a wagon wheel.

  "Gods above," Farmer Tull whispered, reaching out to touch one of its massive fangs. "This thing was hunting in our woods?"

  Antos emerged from the hall, his white beard catching the morning light. "Well now, seems our defenders have been busy." He clapped his hands together. "Tell us everything!"

  Mallie launched into the tale, her voice growing stronger as she described our multi-day hunt. The crowd gasped when she mentioned the creature's intelligence, how it had deliberately fought the more fierce creatures of the woods to grow stronger. When she reached the part about shooting its eye, several people cheered.

  "And then No Eyes fought it up close!" She gestured dramatically with her hands. "Four weapons against six legs, and the dragon couldn't land a single blow!"

  That's not exactly how it happened, I corrected through Mind Speech. As I recall. It had me pinned against a tree. At one point.

  "Well yes, but then you did that thing with the mace!" Mallie turned to the crowd. "No Eyes transformed the weapon right there, made it red hot and drove it straight into the dragon's other eye!"

  More cheers erupted. I noticed even those who had once feared me were nodding in approval.

  "A Snapper Dragon," Antos mused, examining the head. "Haven't seen one of these bastards in near thirty years. They're usually solitary hunters that live deep in the Hellzone. Thank the gods for small favors." He straightened up and raised his voice. "Tonight, we celebrate! Our defenders have rid us of a deadly threat. Let no one say Weath cannot protect its own!"

  The crowd's enthusiasm swelled. Sarah Goodmak promised to pay for fresh bread. Willem declared he'd break out his special ale reserves. Even Farmer Tull clapped me on my mechanical shoulder, though he quickly withdrew his hand when the cold metal registered.

  I stood quietly, watching the villagers' excitement build. For the first time since arriving in Weath, I felt truly accepted, not as a mysterious mechanical being to be feared, but as a protector of their home.

  It felt good.

  The celebration's cheerful mood shattered as Katherin and Moskin pushed through the crowd. Their faces were thunderous, and I wondered why. Mallie shrank behind me, though my mechanical frame provided little cover.

  "You!" Katherin jabbed a finger at me. "How dare you take my daughter into danger!"

  "Mother, I-" Mallie started.

  She had your permission, I said through Mind Speech, though my doubts crept in as Katherin's face reddened further.

  "Permission? Permission!" She whirled on Mallie. "Tell the truth, girl. Did you lie to this... this thing about having our blessing?"

  Mallie stepped out from behind me, her shoulders slumped. "Yes. I knew you wouldn't let me go if I asked." She lifted her chin. "But I helped! I shot the dragon's eye out! I'm not just some child anymore-"

  "Not some child? You're twelve years old!" Katherin rounded on me again. "And you! You should have known better! Or do monsters not care about putting children in danger?"

  I remained still, my mechanical frame creaking slightly as I absorbed her fury. She wasn't entirely wrong. I should have verified her permission directly. But I had been in a hurry to leave, and to be frank, I hadn't been in the mood to deal with her pointless hostility.

  "That's enough." Moskin's quiet voice cut through his wife's tirade. "Mallie's lies are her own doing."

  Katherin spun to face him, her face flushing darker. "Of course. Of course you'd defend it. You always do! Ever since this monster showed up, you've taken its side over mine!"

  "I'm taking the side of truth," Moskin said. "Our daughter lied. That's not No Eyes' fault."

  "Truth? Truth?" Katherin's voice rose to a shriek. "The truth is you care more about this mechanical abomination than your own wife!" She turned and stormed away, shoving through the stunned crowd.

  Silence fell over the gathering. The dragon's head, our triumph from moments ago, lay forgotten on the steps. Moskin stood rigid, his face tight with emotion.

  Antos cleared his throat. "Best go after her, Moskin."

  Moskin nodded once and followed his wife's path through the dispersing villagers.

  "Well then," Antos raised his voice. "Let's prepare for tonight's celebration, shall we? There's still a victory to honor!"

  The crowd thinned, their earlier excitement dampened by the family drama. A few villagers lingered to examine the dragon's head, but the festive mood had evaporated like morning dew.

  "What do you plan to do with this beast's head?" Antos gestured at our trophy.

  I shrugged. It belongs to the village.

  Antos's weathered face softened, genuine emotion crossing his features. "That's... that's mighty generous of you, No Eyes. I'll have it preserved and mounted right here on the town hall's walls. A reminder for future generations about what our defenders are capable of."

  I nodded my helmeted head and turned toward Clarik's smithy. The damage to my combat frame needed attention as several plates had buckled from the dragon's strength. Also, both of my auxiliary arms weren't responding correctly and would need to be tuned.

  "Can I come with you?" Mallie's small voice piped up beside me. When I nodded, she fell into step with my uneven gait.

  We walked in silence for a while, the only sound the creaking of my damaged joints. Mallie kept glancing up at me, then looking away quickly. Finally, she couldn't contain herself anymore.

  "Are you mad at me?" Her voice quavered.

  No. Not mad. I kept walking, my mechanical feet leaving deep impressions in the dirt road. Disappointed. That you lied to me. I thought we could trust each other.

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  Mallie stopped walking, and I turned my eyeless mask to face her. Tears welled up in her eyes.

  "I'm so sorry," she choked out. "I just wanted to help you! I knew my mother would never have let me go, so I thought… I won't ever lie to you again, I promise! Please forgive me?" The words tumbled out in a rush, her freckled face scrunched up with emotion.

  Already forgave you.

  I reached out with my flesh arm, one of the only parts of me that wasn't made up of metal at the moment, and patted her head gently. A smile pulled at my sharp teeth.

  You should apologize to your parents, I told her. And accept whatever punishment they give you. With grace.

  Mallie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, sniffling. "You're right." She squared her small shoulders. "I'll go now, before I lose my nerve."

  Mallie? My sharp teeth clicked as I spoke through Mind Speech. Despite the lie. You fought well. A true warrior owns up to their mistakes.

  A weak smile broke through her tears. She threw her arms around my damaged mechanical frame in a quick hug, then turned and ran toward home, her boots kicking up dust along the road.

  I watched her disappear around the corner, my smile lingering. For all her skill with a bow, for all her bravery facing down that dragon, she was still just a child. One who needed guidance as much as she needed adventure.

  The morning sun caught the tears still drying on her cheeks as she vanished from view, and I felt that strange warmth again, the one that had nothing to do with mechanical parts or my Assembly abilities. The feeling of watching someone young grow into something stronger.

  I turned the other way and headed down the road towards Clarik's. I had been in my combat form for much too long. I couldn't wait to return to my porcelain body; it was much more comfortable to wear with its more humanlike physique.

  I sat in my porcelain form at the head table, my white mask reflecting the warm glow of lantern light. The hall buzzed with chatter and laughter, plates clinking and cups being refilled. The Snapper Dragon's head loomed above us, newly mounted upon its place of honor on the wall. Whoever preserved it had placed glass eyes in the sockets, making the head look as menacing as it did in life.

  Mallie perched beside me in a clean dress, her usual energy somewhat subdued. She kept glancing at Moskin, who managed weak smiles between bites of roasted vegetables. The empty chair where Katherin should have been spoke volumes.

  Clarik's fingers danced across his lute strings, the melody weaving through the celebratory noise. Who knew the burly blacksmith had such delicate skill? Willem and Martin joined in with pipes and drums, the impromptu band drawing couples to their feet to dance.

  "Try this pie, No Eyes!" Sarah Goodmak placed a steaming slice before me. I shook my head.

  I cannot eat.

  "Oh! Right, sorry." She blushed and quickly passed the plate to Mallie instead.

  The baker had outdone himself, as fresh bread and pastries covered every table. The innkeeper's wife's famous stew filled the air with rich aromas. Platters of food kept appearing as families brought their contributions, though I noticed most avoided our end of the table.

  Through my mask's empty eyes, I watched the villagers celebrate. Their fear of me had transformed into something else: not quite acceptance, but no longer outright rejection. They still gave me a wide berth, but their smiles seemed genuine when our gazes met.

  "Papa says Mama just needs time," Mallie whispered, pushing her pie around the plate. "She'll come around eventually."

  I remained silent. Some bridges couldn't be mended with time alone. But tonight wasn't for dwelling on such thoughts.

  The music swelled as Clarik launched into a livelier tune. His thick fingers moved with surprising grace across the strings, drawing more villagers to their feet. Even Mayor Antos joined the dancing, his casual dignity forgotten as he spun another farmer's wife in circles.

  I sat perfectly still in my chair, my porcelain body reflecting the flickering torchlight. The festivities swirled around me, a reminder that while I could protect these people, I would never truly be one of them. Yet somehow, watching their joy, that fact didn't seem to matter quite as much anymore.

  Sarah Goodmak stood at the edge of the dancers, her fingers tapping against her skirts in time with Clarik's lute. Her eyes followed the whirling couples with such naked longing that something stirred in my fractured memories.

  Would you care to dance? I extended my porcelain hand toward her.

  Her eyes widened. "Me? But... can you?"

  Let us find out together.

  She placed her hand in mine, and the moment we stepped onto the floor, memories crashed over me like a wave. Grand ballrooms materialized in my mind's eye, their marble floors gleaming beneath crystal chandeliers. Ladies in silk gowns twirled past gentlemen in velvet doublets while violins sang from a raised dais.

  The scene shifted. Armored figures danced in muddy fields, their plate mail catching firelight as they celebrated victories against creatures of nightmare. The details were hazy, but the movements remained crystal clear.

  My mechanical body moved with fluid grace as I led Sarah through the steps. The gears and joints that usually whirred and clicked seemed to flow like water. She gasped as I guided her through a perfect turn, her skirts swishing against my legs.

  "You dance beautifully!" she exclaimed.

  The villagers had stopped to watch, their faces a mix of wonder and delight. Old Willem's pipe nearly fell from his slack jaw. Even Clarik's fingers stumbled briefly on the lute strings before finding their rhythm again.

  When the song ended, others stepped forward. Mallie tugged at my sleeve, and I swept her into the next dance, her feet barely touching the ground as we spun. Her laughter rang pure and bright above the music.

  "Where did you learn to dance like this?" she asked.

  I wish I knew.

  More partners followed. Sarah's mother, Emma. The innkeeper's wife. Even Clarik handed his lute to another player and asked for a turn. I let him lead, though my movements felt less assured when following rather than leading. Still, he guided me competently through the steps, his weathered face split by an enormous grin.

  "Never thought I'd be dancing with a mechanical wonder," he chuckled. "But here we are."

  I laughed with him, my chime-like voice tinkling along with the music.

  The music had softened, and many villagers returned to their tables. Mallie sat beside me, her fingers tracing patterns on the wooden surface. Her usual cheerful demeanor had given way to something more contemplative.

  "I've made up my mind," she said. Her green eyes met my mask. "About the War Academy. I'm going."

  What changed? Through our mental link, I sensed the weight behind her decision.

  "The dragon." She glanced up at the mounted head. "And Qordos too. When we were fighting the slavers, I was so scared. My hands shook every time I drew my bow. But I kept shooting because I had to protect everyone."

  She squared her shoulders. "With the dragon, it was worse. I knew one mistake meant death. But again, I fought through the fear because our village needed protection."

  You showed great courage.

  "It wasn't courage. Not really." She shook her head. "It was necessity. I realized something while we were tracking that monster. Our village is vulnerable. Raiders, slavers, monsters; they'll all keep coming. And I want to be strong enough to stop them."

  Her fingers curled into fists. "At Qordos, I thought I never wanted to fight again. But that wasn't true. What I really want is to make sure no one can ever threaten my home. And for that, I need proper training. The War Academy can give me that."

  Your mother will be happy, at least. She wanted you to go to the Academy. Did she not?

  "Yes." Mallie's voice dropped lower. "But I'm not doing this for her. It's what I need to do. What our village needs me to do."

  She turned to face me fully. "You've shown me that protecting others means making hard choices. Choosing this… to leave Weath. It's hard. I wish I could stay here forever, but if I want my home to be safe, then I have to go away. At least for a little while."

  I reached out and placed my porcelain hand over her small one. You've grown wise, little archer.

  "I learned from the best." A hint of her usual smile returned.

  The sound of a chair scraping against wood made us both turn. Mayor Antos straightened in his seat, his eyes surprisingly clear despite the empty cups littering the table before him.

  "Good choice, lass." He nodded at Mallie. "The Academy's the only real path for those who want true strength."

  Thought you were sleeping off your drink, I projected, the thought tinged with amusement.

  "Takes more than a few cups to put me under." He tapped his temple. "And I never sleep through important conversations."

  Mallie leaned forward. "What do you mean about true strength?"

  "Ever notice how most folks hit a wall around Level 25?" Antos grabbed a fresh cup, filling it with water this time. "Oh, they can still gain levels, but it gets harder. Much harder. Like swimming through mud."

  I recalled Harke mentioning something similar during our conversations in Qordos.

  "But Academy graduates?" Antos continued. "They break right through that barrier. No one knows exactly why, but their training gives them something special. Knowledge, techniques, whatever it is; it works."

  "Is that why you recommended me?" Mallie's eyes widened.

  "Part of it." He took a long drink. "The other part being your natural talent, of course."

  Mallie fidgeted with her sleeve. "What about the Hellzone? Under the Academy? Is it real?"

  "Oh, it's real alright." Antos set down his cup. "Kaldos himself, the God of War, he built that place right over an underground Hellzone's entrance. Smart, really. Where better to train warriors than in actual combat?"

  They send students into a Hellzone? The thought of Mallie facing the dangers I'd encountered made my mechanical fingers tighten against the table.

  "Not right away," Antos assured us, noting my reaction. "But eventually, yes. That's where the real training happens. The Academy Hellzone, they call it. Reserved just for students."

  He leaned back, his chair creaking. "You know how many people have managed to hit Level 100? Thirty-seven. And every single one of them graduated from the War Academy."

  Mallie's mouth fell open. "All of them?"

  "Every last one." Antos nodded. "That's no coincidence, lass. Whatever they're teaching in those halls, it works."

  The revelation settled over our table like a heavy blanket. Mallie sat straighter, her jaw set with determination. I could see the wheels turning in her mind, imagining herself among those legendary graduates.

  When will you leave. For the Academy? I projected the thought to Mallie as the celebration continued around us. The mounted dragon's head cast long shadows across the hall, a reminder of our recent victory.

  She traced the rim of her empty plate. "The next coming entrance ceremony is in four months. After that, they won't take on any new students for another four years."

  Four months. My porcelain fingers tapped against the wooden table. That should give you plenty of time to prepare.

  "And say goodbye." Her voice caught slightly. "I've never been away from home before. Not counting... well, Qordos."

  The music had died down, replaced by quiet conversations and the occasional burst of laughter. Clarik's lute lay silent in his lap as he shared a drink with Willem.

  I will miss you when you're gone. The thought flowed naturally between us. But I'll be here, keeping Weath safe while you study. I promise to protect it doubly hard. In your absence.

  Mallie's eyes glistened. She wiped at them quickly with her sleeve. "Thank you, No Eyes. For everything." She straightened her shoulders, managing a wobbly smile. "When I come back, I'll be strong enough to protect you, too."

  The mental equivalent of laughter rippled through our connection. That would be nice. I could use a break now and then.

  "I mean it!" She punched my porcelain arm lightly. "Just you wait. I'll become the strongest Archer the Academy has ever seen!"

  I don't doubt it for a moment. I placed my hand on her shoulder, feeling the determined set of her muscles. You've already proven yourself braver than most.

  As we fell into a comfortable silence, I sat back and felt numb. Mallie was leaving. I would lose another friend. First Harke left me, now her. I tried not to feel sad; I wanted to be happy for her. This was, after all, a great opportunity. Yet, like Harke, she was one of the first friends I had made since I was reborn in this world. And now, she would be gone, for who knew how long.

  But as I sat there and looked across the town hall, at all the people whom I had met and befriended, I felt content. Clarik, Sarah; Willem and Derek; all of them were new people, new friends that I had made. This was life, was it not? We may lose people we grow to care for during our journey, yet we form deep bonds with others along the way. Not to replace our old friends, but to add to them.

  Though my memories might be broken, I knew that this was exactly how life was supposed to work. I couldn't help but wonder whether my former self, the person I was before my monstrous rebirth, had any cherished companions who now existed only within my missing memories. The thought saddened me. The idea of forgetting Harke, of forgetting Mallie; it made my heart ache.

  I made a promise to myself at that very moment. I vowed to never, ever forget a friend. Even though we may be parted, I swore to always remember them. No matter where they are.

  It would make getting back together all the more special someday.